Avoid conflict quotes

According to the European media, UK Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a brief speech concerning Brexit in front of the EU leaders on September 19, before the leaders of the 27 EU member nations discuss the issue on September 20. However, the UK leader had “little to say” with the EU leaders in the context that there remain disagreements over Brexit within the UK, as well as significant obstacles during the Brexit talks between the UK and the EU. On September 18, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, expressed his belief that the two sides could reach a “divorce agreement” if the integrity of the EU common market is guaranteed. Analysts said that, up to now, the UK and the EU have significantly reduced their disagreement over the Brexit negotiations. Nonetheless, the two sides have still yet to overcome a focal point to reach a final deal, which is the issue of the border between Northern Ireland (UK) and the Republic of Ireland. Both the UK … [Read more...] about Brexit remains hot issue at EU summit

Friday's Tale Deaf ear Son Nguyen Friday, Mar 9, 2018,21:34 (GMT+7) Deaf earSon Nguyen Loud complaints are still unheard, despite karaoke singing is spreading like an epidemic in the country, from megacities to out-of-the-way rural areas, wreaking havoc the normal life, affecting public health, and giving way to deadly conflicts. Major newspapers these days are running extensive articles about karaoke, highlighting it as a huge social problem that needs State intervention. Public protests, as seen in feedback at such news outlets, are also overwhelming, but solutions, as admitted by law enforcement agencies, are not on the table. Karaoke thus will remain deafening. The striking emergence of karaoke in mainstream media can be attributed to a fatal incident a week or so ago. It began as a simple exchange of words between a group of people playing karaoke music loudly and a man next door last Wednesday, in Ha Tinh Province’s Duc … [Read more...] about Deaf ear

It was “not very reassuring,” Jeffrey Ordaniel told VnExpress, referring to the address by U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore a week ago. Ordaniel, Research Fellow with the Pacific Forum, felt that while Mattis outlined what America wants to see in the so-called Indo-Pacific Region, he failed to clearly articulate how Washington could help smaller countries resist pressure and coercion from China. He could not even clearly commit to defend the Philippines, a mutual defense-treaty ally, in the South China Sea, Ordaniel noted. The South China Morning Post quoted the Defense Secretary as saying that the "the U.S. will continue to pursue a constructive, results-oriented relationship with China, cooperating when possible and competing vigorously where we must … of course we recognize any sustainable Indo-Pacific order has a role for China." But the U.S. bark seems to lack bite, analysts feel. On May 23, the U.S. disinvited China … [Read more...] about Is the US going soft on China?

President Donald Trump and his national security aides on Thursday discussed U.S. options on Syria, where he has threatened missile strikes in response to a suspected poison gas attack, as a Russian envoy voiced fears of wider conflict between Washington and Moscow. Worries about a confrontation between Russia, Syria’s big ally, and the West have been running high since Trump said on Wednesday that missiles “will be coming” in response to the attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7, and lambasted Moscow for standing by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Trump tempered those remarks on Thursday and even as he consulted with allies such and Britain and France, who could join in any U.S.-led strikes on Syria, there were signs of efforts to prevent the crisis from spiraling out of control. “Never said when an attack on Syria would take place. Could be very soon or not so soon at all!” Trump wrote on Twitter, raising the prospect that an attack might not … [Read more...] about Trump weighs Syria options, Russia envoy says he ‘cannot exclude’ war

Washington and Beijing are going toe-to-toe in a trade spat, and Vietnam is set to become embroiled in the conflict, for better or for worse. The row is likely to deal a blow to export-reliant Vietnam, as its overseas shipments form part of China’s value chain. “If the U.S imposes high tariffs on China’s broader cross-border supply chain, Vietnam, which exports goods that serve as inputs for China’s exports, will be badly hit,” said economist Le Dang Doanh. It’s unclear whether Washington will tax Chinese firms alone or their wider supply networks. About 2.2 percent of Vietnam’ shipments abroad are part of China’s value chain, Bloomberg quoted date from RHB Bank Bhd as saying. Sharing the same opinion, Steven Schwartz, senior director of sovereign ratings for Asia at Fitch Ratings, said South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia, all of which export goods – such as machine parts and components for communications equipment … [Read more...] about What does Vietnam have to lose or gain from US-China trade war?